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12 Oils of Ancient Scripture: Myrrh

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Historically a highly prized aromatic oil, myrrh has a rich history in the Old and New Testament. Today, Gary Young shares a personal experience using myrrh essential oil.

myrrhMyrrh was another highly prized aromatic substance mentioned in the Old and New Testament. According to Proverbs 7:17, King Solomon perfumed his bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. It is fitting that myrrh symbolizes suffering since it is harvested by slicing the tree so the precious resin oozes out and hardens into drops, called tears. Christ was given myrrh at his birth, and along with aloes it was used in preparing his body for burial. Myrrh was also included in the holy anointing oil and was well known to the ancient perfumers. From Esther 2:12 we learn that the candidates from whom King Ahasuerus was to pick his queen were prepared by anointings: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet odors.

The Arabian people of antiquity used myrrh for a variety of skin conditions. Myrrh was also used traditionally on the umbilical cord during birth. I had this experience with my own son as I facilitated the delivery with Mary. Immediately upon his delivery, I anointed the umbilical cord with myrrh oil, continuing to put myrrh oil on it multiple times a day. It was the most beautiful experience! There was no question in my mind of the greatness of these oils and the benefits and the blessings that they brought to the newborn king, as well as the countless other children that might have been anointed with these precious oils, as I truly had this experience firsthand.

Next time, join me as I discuss a few lesser known oils of ancient scripture: onycha, spikenard, and rose of Sharon.

Essentially Yours,

Gary Young

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12 Oils of Ancient Scripture: Sandalwood

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

A continuation of a multipart discussion about each of the 12 Oils of Ancient Scripture, today Gary Young speaks to the historical significance and traditional uses of sandalwood.

sandalwoodSandalwood is another aromatic substance with a long, rich history in ancient times. Traditionally referred to as “aloes” or “aloewood,” it is mentioned in John 19:39: “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight.” Psalms 45:8 informs us that the garments of the Messiah are fragrant with myrrh, cassia, and aloes, which is sandalwood.

The documenting of biblical plants and aromatics down through the ages has not been exact. The first entire book on plants was not published until 1566 AD, but many botanists believe that aloes derived from sandalwood, one of the oldest incenses known to man. Its 4,000-year history includes use as a carved wood as well as distillation for its sweet, woody, and fruity scented oil. The quantity of myrrh and aloes used in preparing Christ’s body for burial was indicative of deep respect; and in ancient Egypt, myrrh and sandalwood were used to embalm the great pharaohs of Egypt.

Historically, sandalwood was recognized for its improving of the lymphatic system, strengthening the heart, and calming the nerves. Ancient references also mention sandalwood for hemorrhaging, heart fatigue, and sciatica—although no modern clinical research has verified these benefits. Perhaps this is why sandalwood was a treasured aromatic substance in ancient times.

Modern science is now beginning to investigate the antiseptic and immune supporting properties of some of the constituents of these precious oils. Studies conducted at the University of Wisconsin show that limonene can inhibit aflatoxins and their production by toxic fungi and prevent DNA damage.

Next time, join me as I discuss another significant oil of ancient scripture: myrrh.

Essentially Yours,

Gary Young

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12 Oils of Ancient Scripture: Frankincense, part II

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Because of his travels, Gary Young has immersed himself in the study of frankincense. Here, Gary recounts some of this precious substance’s legendary history.

frankincenseFrankincense was anciently associated with longevity. For instance: In the tales of Alexander’s adventures in India at the oracle of the sun and the moon, the Indian guardians of the oracle lived in a bower of sacred trees, which wafted the aroma of frankincense and balsam. They lived on pure water, balsam, and frankincense; a diet on which they had thrived for 300 years.

Legend also tells about Adam having been given gold, frankincense, and myrrh by God as a consolation for having lost paradise. According to the legends, he hid these gifts safely high in the mountains where they were treasured by Noah after the waters of the flood had receded. These sacred gifts were said to be passed down from generation to generation and kept carefully until the time came that they were to be brought to the newborn Jesus.

As early as 2800 BC, frankincense was carried either north to Mesopotamia or west to the Red Sea. There it was loaded on boats bound for Egypt where it was valued as an offering worthy of the gods. The Egyptian Book of the Dead considered incense far more than a ceremonial trapping. Frankincense was believed to enhance the afterlife journey of the deceased using the words of the ritual pyramid text: “A stairway to the sky is set up for me that I may ascend on it to the sky. And I ascend on the sense of the great sensing, frankincense.”

Of all the ancient scripture oils, frankincense has the greatest story and the longest history—widely regarded as the most powerful aromatic substance in ancient times. The writings of Ptolemy comment that the small fragments that crumble off of the worked frankincense lumps as well as the frankincense dust and powder were called manna.

Many other medicinal uses of frankincense throughout the ages appear in ancient records. The early physicians described the properties of frankincense as being hot, dry, astringent, detergent, and extractant. Childbirth was protected by fumigation of frankincense and fresh frankincense was traditionally used in poultices and plasters to treat a wide variety of skin lesions. The gum was made into pills to treat thinning of blood and of abdominal and chest pain, cholera, and a wide variety of problems. Frankincense mixtures were claimed to cure all known ails and to be an antidote to all known poisons. Frankincense was thought to be very good for the healing of bone fractures and it was also thought to aid conception. Even the pollen was prescribed in a remedy for gout, and the buds and the berries for the cleansing of an infected throat.

However, no modern studies have yet investigated the validity of these claims.

Stayed tuned for more information about the 12 Oils of Ancient Scripture! Next, I’ll focus on the history and therapeutic benefits of sandalwood.

Essentially Yours,

Gary Young

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12 Oils of Ancient Scripture: Frankincense, part I

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

This is the beginning of the story of 12 Oils of Ancient Scripture, including some exciting experiences of Gary Young as he has traveled and studied around the world. Today, Gary Young recounts one particular experience in traveling to southern Arabia to discover the secrets of the frankincense tree.

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One particular morning I arose from bed in a city called Salalah in southern Arabia. I’ll never forget the excitement that was in my heart as I realized that morning that Mary and I were going to travel into the mountains in eastern Oman to see, to feel, to touch, to experience the magnificence of the greatest storied tree in world history: the frankincense tree.

The excitement grew as I thought about when we would journey into the empty quarter to see the city of Od, now referred to as the lost city of Ubar—the Atlantis of the desert. A city where the trade of frankincense and myrrh and balsam took place; where fine linens and silks came across the Silk Road from China, Tibet, and India and journeyed all the way into Southern Arabia to trade for the precious ointments and the precious resins of frankincense and myrrh. A commodity that was so wealthy that the kings prized their wealth upon the volume of this great ointment and resin that they possessed. That the newborn kings and queens were anointed with these precious oils. Why? Why were these such praised and sought-after commodities?

As I stood at the foot of a frankincense tree looking up into the branches, I realized that I was touching a tree that produced a resin that could be distilled into an oil with which the Christ child may have been anointed with; an oil that was anciently regarded as being more valuable than gold; and one of the most powerful natural healing substances known. Trader ships from Sri Lanka, India, China, Japan, Egypt, and various ports of the world brought spices, linens, gold, and silver to make the journey to the lost city of Ubar to trade for the precious ointments. We read in Exodus that these substances were regarded as very special, very sacred elements:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Take unto thee sweet spices spectate and galbanum, these sweet spices with pure frankincense of each there should be a like weight. And thou shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together pure and holy. And thou shall beat some of it very small and put it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation where I will meet with thee. It shall be unto you most holy.’”

Stay tuned for more adventures and education about my travels and the 12 Oils of Ancient Scripture!

Essentially Yours,

Gary Young

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